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The Crucible hosts this week’s Objectivist Round Up. Enjoy!
Welcome to the August 12, 2010 edition of the Objectivist Round Up.
Today’s Ayn Rand quote comes from the article, “Bootleg Romanticism” in The Romantic Manifesto. I just finished reading a great mystery/adventure book so these sentiments are uppermost in my mind.
“Thrillers” are detective, spy or adventure stories. Their basic characteristic is conflict, which means: a clash of goals, which means: purposeful action in pursuit of values. Thrillers are the product, the popular offshoot, of the Romantic school of art that sees man, not as a helpless pawn of fate, but as a being who possesses volition, whose life is directed by his own value-choices. Romanticism is a value-oriented, morality-centered movement: its material is not journalistic minutiae, but the abstract, the essential, the universal principles of man’s nature—and its basic literary commandment is to portray man “as he might be and ought to be.”
Thrillers are a simplified, elementary version of Romantic literature. They are not concerned with a delineation of values, but, taking certain fundamental values for granted, they are concerned with only one aspect of a moral being’s existence: the battle of good against evil in terms of purposeful action—a dramatized abstraction of the basic pattern of: choice, goal, conflict, danger, struggle, victory.
I hope you’ve found some good reading lately. Speaking of good reading, let’s move on to the Round Up:
Burgess Laughlin presents A mystic in reason’s camp? posted at The Main Event, saying, “This post briefly describes one pro-reason advocate’s encounter with an unusual type of mystic — at a conference for pro-reason advocates. The post also begins discussion of how best to classify this particular form of mysticism.”
Rachel Miner presents Teaching by Essentials posted at The Playful Spirit, saying, “It’s so easy to overwhelm when teaching new information. I noted this frequently as a nurse when teaching new moms and I see it all the time in parenting! This post is about being most effective when communicating new information and it’s a plug for Scott Powell’s History at Our House too because he does this so well!”
Jane Eisenhart presents I Hope Lady Gaga is Disappointed posted at Hometown Grotesque, saying, “In this blog, I examine the cultural institution that is Lady Gaga using prototypes from The Fountainhead.”
Jim Woods presents Mexico’s Drug-induced Anarchy posted at Words by Woods, saying, “Mexican President Calderón reports to his country that the violent drug gangs and mafia plaguing Mexico seek to replace the state.”
John McVey presents Work on value in my economics ‘grimoire’ posted at John J McVey, saying, “I’ve finally done what I said I’d do regarding criticism of my rejection of the existence of subjective values.”
Roderick Fitts presents A second proof that “Reason is Man’s Means of Survival” posted at Inductive Quest, saying, “A second inductive proof, gained from six weeks of observation and the tutelage of Dr. Peikoff’s OTI course. I’m beginning to understand Objectivism inductively now!”
Ari Armstrong presents Harry Potter’s Lessons for Journalists posted at Free Colorado, saying, “This is an op-ed length treatment of journalism as presented in Harry Potter.”
Sean Saulsbury presents The False Hope of Failure posted at SeanCast.com, saying, “”Failure” is a buzz word in today’s startup and business world. Many are focusing on it, saying not to be intimidated by it. While the intention is good, the growing focus on failure is a false hope that cannot bring success by itself…”
Jared Rhoads presents “How an Economy Grows” by Peter Schiff posted at The Lucidicus Project, saying, “Here are some notes, thoughts, and reactions related to Peter Schiff’s new book, which explains economic growth through a parable.”
Stella presents Government food ratings get an F posted at ReasonPharm, saying, “Unfortunately, New York City has decided to follow many other municipalities in giving letter grades to restaurants. Here’s why New Yorkers should stick to their own judgment rather than relying on a bureaucrat’s grade.”
Martin Lindeskog presents SENATE HALTS EFFORTS TO DESTROY AMERICA | EGO posted at EGO, saying, “Guest blog post by Roland Horvath.”
C. August presents The Great Depression Reenactor posted at Titanic Deck Chairs, saying, “Christina Romer has spent most of her academic career studying the Great Depression. As Obama’s chief economic adviser for the past 18 months, her experience was supposed to help. Instead, she just helped the country reenact her favorite historical period.”
Andrew Dalton presents The mosque is just a symptom posted at Witch Doctor Repellent, saying, “If the United States still had a culture of achievement and resilience, rather than our present morass of harm-avoidance and self-doubt, the New York mosque might not have been an issue.”
Amy Mossoff presents Tumbling posted at The Little Things, saying, “We found a way to help our daughter learn to take some risks. Cute video alert!”
Rational Jenn presents The Story of MiniCon posted at Rational Jenn, saying, “Kelly and I finally got around to writing up a few notes about what we did to get MiniCon 2010 up and running!”
Kelly Elmore presents Poetry Recommendations posted at Reepicheep’s Coracle, saying, “This is the first post in a series that shares most of the content of my Mini-Con course on poetry appreciationg. This is my handout for the class. Check back for videos and comments on enjoying poetry more.”
Diana Hsieh presents Colorado Senate Candidate Ken Buck on Abortion posted at NoodleFood, saying, “Ken Buck is now the GOP’s nominee for Colorado Senator in 2011. Could his views on abortion be any worse? I think not.”
Zip presents In Other News… posted at UNCOMMON SENSE, saying, “In Other News… Rain falls, Dogs bark, alcohol is addictive and bad for your liver.”
Nate Phillipps presents The Rule Of Gold posted at Faith Through Fear.
Peter Cresswell presents The “safety net” is actually a hammock posted at Not PC, saying, “A report into the sacred cow of New Zealand’s welfare state gave me the opportunity to tell two-thousand readers about the moral cannibalism of state welfare–with a little help from the Ayn Rand Lexicon.”
Edward Cline presents Cordoba House: A ‘Man-Caused’ Disaster posted at The Rule of Reason, saying, “I detest Islam because it is one of the most degrading, anti-mind, anti-individual, collectivist creeds in existence. I detest it for all the crimes it has committed throughout history, perhaps more than I do the crimes committed by the Catholic Church in its heyday, perhaps more than the atrocities committed by any religious creed. I understand the sensitivities and emotions of all their victims. So, if that is bigotry, I will make the most of it.”
Jeff Montgomery presents Boulder Three Peak Run posted at Fun With Gravity, saying, “A post about a run/hike in the peaks west of Boulder, CO, with photos.”
Jeff Montgomery presents North Table Mountain Run posted at Fun With Gravity, saying, “I submitted this post mainly for the cool closeup of a grasshopper. What amazing natural engineering.”
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Objectivist Round Up using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Kelly has your Objectivist Round Up this week at her blog, Reepicheep’s Coracle.
Musing Aloud hosts this week’s Objectivist Round Up. Enjoy!
LB of 3 Ring Binder is hosting this week’s Objectivist Round Up.
This week’s edition of The Objectivist Round Up can be found at The Playful Spirit.
I just returned from the closing banquet. What an inspirational, life-affirming, relaxing, exhausting, stimulating, fun conference this was! I’m coming away with three specific new goals: a writing project, a homeschooling project, and an art project. I’m sure I’ll write more about them in the weeks to come. And I’m coming away with that feeling I always have at the end of an Objectivist conference: the knowledge that, on the whole, Objectivists are the best people in the world.
My last conference was in 2007 in Telluride. Sam was 10 months old and we had just begun our nomadic adventures and I was so miserable that I didn’t enjoy the conference much at all. Prior to that I attended the 1991, 1998, and 1999 conferences. I enjoyed all of those, but never had anything like the experience I had this year. This year, I had my own personal goals with which I could integrate what I was learning. This year, I had friends and acquaintances independent from Adam. (He knew so many people in ‘98 and ‘99 and it was hard for me to remember everyone I was introduced to–it was a bit overwhelming.) On top of that, I got to meet new friends whom I had only known electronically. The cool part was that I recognized them from their Facebook profile pictures so there was much less social anxiety of thinking, “I know this person but forgot his name,” or “I want to catch up with so-and-so but I don’t think I’d recognize her.” No, this time, I knew who I knew and I met just enough new people so that I could keep them all straight. There are at least five people I can think of that I’m sure I will become closer to after spending time at the conference together. And for all of my other friends who were here, I was able to spend quite a bit of time with them, cementing our relationships even more.
Objectivists are an amazing group. Most are warm and friendly, successful, lively, intelligent, interesting, and, yes, HAPPY! Tonight I watched Dr. Ellen Kenner, who must be in her mid fifties, dancing joyfully with her husband and others, wearing a sexy, sparkly, backless top – the kind designed for college kids. She looked great and I noted that it takes a real benevolent sense of life to dress like that. She is young at heart and bursting with joy. Watching her captured the essence of what I feel about the people at this conference. People talked passionately late into the night, not about abstract ideas (although that did occur too) but about their careers, or their kids, home improvement projects, their pets, their local Objectivist clubs, the activism work they do, etc. etc. etc. These people are passionate valuers who use Objectivism as a tool to enhance their lives. It’s not just some academic game. There is a really great culture growing in Objectivism now, and I am honored to be a part of it. I’m getting a little teary just thinking about all of the incredible people I spent time with this week.
But now, the time has come. We leave for Florida tomorrow. I can feel no sadness in leaving, even this most wonderful event, because tomorrow I see my daughter for the first time in nine days. She seems to have handled the separation well, and Adam and I were doing fine – until yesterday. I started really missing her and just wanted the conference to be over. We stayed out very late last night and had a few drinks and when we woke up, we decided to bail on the classes and spend the whole day in our hotel room. I’m sorry I missed the last two lectures, but I was just done. Stick a fork in me, I’m done. I managed to get dressed up and attend the closing banquet, and I even enjoyed it a little bit, but those big events are not really my cup of tea. So here I am, back in the hotel room, ready to curl up with an Agatha Christie book and count the hours until I can put my arms around my little girl. We’re coming home tomorrow, Sam! We miss you! We love you!
You can find the Round Up at Sandi Trixx this week.
Tonight at OCON I’m taking a break to get in my required alone time – it’s room service and a book for me. If I’m around people too much, I seem to lose my mind – even when they are some of the greatest people in the world!
I am having the best time at this conference. I promised myself that I’d try to focus my socializing around the education folks – the teachers, homeschoolers, and other parents concerned with their kids’ education. I’ve had so many illuminating conversations already, and it’s only Monday! The optional courses that I’m taking are all things that apply directly to my life and work: Ray Girn’s course on Moral Development in Education, Keith Lockitch’s course Writing Objectively, and Lisa VanDamme’s course on Making Poetry Part of Your Life. I’ll report on them some time after I return, but I know already that I’m pleased with this strategy, rather than the one I used in the past of picking speakers that I like or some subject that I have a general curiosity about. I mean, those are fine strategies for other purposes, but now that I’m finally honing my interests and developing a Central Purpose, this is exactly what I need.
I’ve reconnected with many friends that I see rarely, and I’m hoping that I’ll come away with a few new friends as well.
Yaron Brook gave a talk on Defending Capitalism this morning that was so inspiring. I mean, it was not only inspiring in the sense of giving spiritual fuel, but it gave me a specific idea for a new project that could unite two of my greatest values. I won’t write about it until I flesh it out more, though.
On top of that, both Leonard Peikoff and David Harriman have included education as major parts of their lectures. My mind is doing its thing as an integrating machine and I feel about to burst with insights, practical ideas, and new challenges to think about.
Last night, for Independence Day, among other things, we were treated to a reading of Thomas Jefferson’s last letter by John Ridpath. If you’ve ever heard John Ridpath speak of the Founders, you can imagine how moving it was, and what an incredible way to celebrate this secular holy day.
Ta-ta for now. I’m off to enjoy some solitude.
It looks like there won’t be much time for blogging here. We’re having a great time. Peikoff is thrilling, David Harriman and Yaron Brook were excellent, and I’m just getting started in Ray Girn’s course, Moral Development in Education.
Sam is doing fine with her grandparents in Florida. We talk to her once or twice a day and she sounds so sad, but reports from grandma indicate that she is having a great time. Still, it breaks my heart when I hear her say, MOMMY? I REALLY, REALLY WANT YOU TO COME HOME.
On the other hand, I’m doing just fine without her. I miss her, but I’m not having panic attacks suddenly wondering where she is, and I don’t feel like I forgot my purse or something. Actually, I must be pretty relaxed because I did leave my notebook at Starbucks this morning.
Adam was so sweet and brought along a framed picture of Sam for my nightstand.
I hope to have more time to write about the content of the lectures but right now we’re off to the pool. First time we’re actually venturing out of the hotel!
Trey Givens hosts The Objectivist Round Up this week!
Lynne at 3-Ring-Binder has your Objectivist Round Up this week.
We’re off on our farm vacation tomorrow where there will be no blogging, and all I can leave you with is this link to the Objectivist Round Up. Sometimes the curse of blogging is sitting in front of an empty screen with nothing to say, but more often (for me anyway) it’s having a life and a mind bursting with things to write about, but not enough time and energy to do it. I like my way best.
Here are some things I’m thinking about and will hopefully be writing about soon:
- a new fiction story idea
- baby making update (yikes, I promised that a week ago)
- school fundraising programs
- my new exercise program
- report on books I’ve read lately
- my implementation of the personal productivity ideas in Getting Things Done (not working so well with the blogging, eh?)
- home improvement updates
- Sammy’s first official extracurricular activity
- Results of my physical exam with my concierge physician
- My love of driving and running errands
- How I get Sammy out the door in the mornings for school
- A report on a thrilling and relaxing (not a contradiction!) farm vacation
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